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essays & effluvia: The Android and The Human

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Dog+Boat+Water=Mess|Main|Watchdog? Sunday,July10,2005

T he Andr o id and T he Human

TheAndroidandTheHuman
PhilipK.Dick,1972 Itisthetendencyofthesocalledprimitivemindtoanimateitsenvironment.Moderndepthpsychology hasrequestedusforyearstowithdrawtheseanthropomorphicprojectionsfromwhatisactually inanimatereality,tointrojectthatis,tobringbackintoourownheadsthelivingqualitywhichwe, inignorance,castoutontotheinertthingssurroundingus.Suchintrojectionissaidtobethemarkof truematurityintheindividual,andtheauthenticmarkofcivilizationincontrasttomeresocialculture, suchasonefindinatribe.AnativeofAfricaissaidtoviewhissurroundingsaspulsingwithapurpose, alife,whichisactuallywithinhimselfoncethesechildishprojectionsarewithdrawn,heseesthatthe worldisdead,andthatliferesidessolelywithinhimself.Whenhereachesthissophisticatedpointheis saidtobeeithermatureorsane.Orscientific.Butonewonders:hashenotalso,inthisprocess,reifed thatis,madeintoathingotherpeople?Stonesandrocksandtreesmaynowbeinanimatefor him,butwhatabouthisfriends?Hashenotnowmadethemintostones,too? Thisis,really,apsychologicalproblem.Anditssolution,Ithink,isoflessimportanceinanycasethan onemightthink,because,withinthelastdecade,wehaveseenatrendnotanticipatedbyourearnest psychologistsorbyanyoneelsewhichdwarfsthatissue:ourenvironment,andImeanourman madeworldofmachines,artificialconstructs,computers,electronicsystems,interlinkinghomeostatic componentsallthisisinfactbeginningmoreandmoretopossesswhattheearnestpsychologists feartheprimitiveseesinhisenvironment:animation.Inaveryrealsenseourenvironmentis becomingalive,oratleastquasialive,andinwaysspecificallyandfundamentallyanalogousto ourselves.Cybernetics,avaluablerecentscientificdiscipline,articulatedbythelateNorbertWiener, sawvalidcomparisonsbetweenthebehaviorofmachinesandhumanswiththeviewthatastudyof machineswouldyieldvaluableinsightsintothenatureofourownbehavior.Bystudyingwhatgoes wrongwithamachineforexamplewhentwomutuallyexclusivetropismsfunctionsimultaneouslyin oneofGreyWalter'ssyntheticturtles,producingfascinatinglyintricatebehaviorinthebefuddledturtles onelearns,perhaps,anew,morefruitfulinsightintowhatinhumanswaspreviouslycalled "neurotic"behavior.Butsupposetheuseofthisanalogyisturnedtheotherway?SupposeandI don'tbelieveWieneranticipatedthissupposeastudyofourselves,ourownnature,enablesusto gaininsightintothenowextraordinarilycomplexfunctioningandmalfunctioningofmechanicaland electronicconstructs?InotherwordsandthisiswhatIwishtostressinwhatIamsayinghereit isnowpossiblethatwecanlearnabouttheartificialexternalenvironmentaroundus,howitbehaves, why,whatitisupto,byanalogizingfromwhatweknowaboutourselves. Machinesarebecomingmorehuman,sotospeakatleastinthesensethat,asWienerindicated, somemeaningfulcomparisonexistsbetweenhumanandmechanicalbehavior.Butisitnotourselves thatweknowfirstandforemost?Ratherthanlearningaboutourselvesbystudyingourconstructs, perhapsweshouldmaketheattempttocomprehendwhatourconstructsareuptobylookingintowhat weourselvesareupto.

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Perhaps,really,whatweareseeingisagradualmergingofthegeneralnatureofhumanactivityand functionintotheactivityandfunctionofwhatwehumanshavebuiltandsurroundedourselveswith.A hundredyearsagosuchathoughtwouldhavebeenabsurd,ratherthanmerelyanthropomorphic.What couldamanlivingin1750havelearnedabouthimselfbyobservingthebehaviorofadonkeysteam engine?Couldhehavewatchedithuffingandpuffingandthenextrapolatedfromitslaboraninsight intowhyhehimselfcontinuallyfellinlovewithonecertaintypeofprettyyounggirl?Thiswouldnot havebeenprimitivethinkingonhispartitwouldhavebeenpathological.Butnowwefindourselves immersedinaworldofourownmakingsointricate,somysterious,thatasStanislawLem,the eminentPolishsciencefictionwriter,theorizes,thetimemaycomewhenforexampleamanmayhave toberestrainedfromattemptingtorapeasewingmachine.Letushope,ifthattimecomes,thatitisa femalesewingmachinehefastenshisintentionson.Andoneovertheageofseventeenhopefullya veryoldtreadleoperatedSinger,althoughpossiblyregrettablypastmenopause. Ihave,insomeofmystoriesandnovels,writtenaboutandroidsorrobotsorsimularathename doesn'tmatterwhatismeantisartificialconstructsmasqueradingashumans.Usuallywithasinister purposeinmind.IsupposeItookitforgrantedthatifsuchaconstruct,arobotforexample,hada benignoranyhowdecentpurposeinmind,itwouldnotneedtosodisguiseitself. Now,tome,that themeseemsobsolete.Theconstructsdonotmimichumanstheyare,inmanydeepways, actually humanalready.Theyarenottryingtofoolus,forapurposeofanysorttheymerelyfollowlineswe follow,inorderthatthey,too,mayovercomesuchcommonproblemsasthebreakdownofvitalparts, lossofpowersource,attackbysuchfoesasstorms,shortcircuitsandI'msureanyoneofushere cantestifythatashortcircuit,especiallyinourpowersupply,canruinourentiredayandmakeus utterlyunabletogettoourdailyjob,or,onceattheoffice,uselessasfarasdoingtheworksetforth onourdesk.

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essays & effluvia: The Android and The Human

Whatwouldoccurtomeasarecastingoftherobotappearingashumanthemewouldbeagleaming robotwithatelescanlensandaheliumbatterypowerback,who,whenjostled,bleeds.Underneaththe metalhullisaheart,suchasweourselveshave.PerhapsIwillwritethat.Or,asinstoriesalreadyin print,acomputer,whenaskedsomeultimatequestionsuchas,"Whyistherewater?",printsoutFirst Corinthians.OnestoryIwrote,whichI'mafraidIfailedtotakeseriouslyenough,dealtwithacomputer which,whenabletoansweraquestionputtoit,atethequestioner.PresumablyIfailedtogointo thishadthecomputerbeenunabletoansweraquestion,thehumanquestionerwouldhaveeaten it. Anyhow,Iinadvertentlyblendedthehumanandtheconstruct,anddidn'tnoticethatsuchablend might,intime,actuallybegintobecomepartofourreality.LikeLem,Ithinkthiswillbeso,moreand more.ButtoprojectpastLem'sidea:atimemaycomewhen,ifamantriestorapeasewingmachine, thesewingmachinewillhavehimarrestedandtestifyperhapsevenalittlehystericallyagainsthimin court.Thisleadstoallsortsofspinoffideas:falsetestimonybysubornedsewingmachineswhoaccuse innocentmenunfairly,paternitytests,and,ofcourse,abortionsforsewingmachineswhichhave becomepregnantagainsttheirwill.Andwouldtherebebirthcontrolpillsforsewingmachines? Probably,likeoneofmypreviouswives,certainsewingmachineswouldcomplainthatthepillsmade themoverweightorrather,intheircase,thatitmadethemsewirregularstitches.Andtherewould beunreliablesewingmachinesthatwouldforgettotakebirthcontrolpills.And,lastbutnotleast,there wouldhavetobePlannedParenthoodClinicsatwhichsewingmachinesjustofftheassemblylines wouldbeconseledastothedangersofpromiscuity,withseverewarningsofvenerealdiseasesvisited onsuchimmoralmachinesbyanoutragedGodHimself,nodoubt,abletosewbuttonholesandfancy needleworkataratethatwoulddazzlethecredulousmerelymetalandplasticsewingmachinesalways ready,likeourselves,tokowtowbeforedivinemiracles. Iambeingfacetiousaboutthis,Isuppose,butthepointisnotmerelyahumorousone.Our electronicconstructsarebecomingsocomplexthattocomprehendthemwemustnowreversethe analogizingofcyberneticsandtrytoreasonfromourownmentationandbehaviortotheirsalthough Isupposetoassignmotiveorpurposetothemwouldbetoentertherealmofparanoiawhatmachines domayresemblewhatwedo,butcertainlytheydonothaveintentinthesensethatwehavethey havetropisms,theyhavepurposeinthesensethatwebuildthemtoaccomplishcertainendsandto reacttocertainstimuli.Apistol,forexample,isbuiltwiththepurposeoffiringametalslugthatwill damage,incapacitateorkillsomeone,butthisdoesnotmeanthepistol wantstodothis.Andyethere weareenteringthephilosophicalrealmofSpinozawhenhesaw,andIthinkwithgreatprofundity,that ifafallingstonecouldreason,itwouldthink,"I wanttofallattherateof32feetpersecondper second."Freewillforusthatis,whenwefeeldesire,whenweconsciousofwantingtodowhatwe domaybeevenforusanillusionanddepthpsychologyseemstosubstantiatethis:manyofour drivesinlifeoriginatefromanunconsciousthatisbeyondourcontrol.Wearedrivenasareinsects, althoughtheterm"instinct"isperhapsnotapplicableforus.Whatevertheterm,muchofourbehavior thatwefeelistheresultofourwill,maycontrolustotheextentthatforallpracticalpurposeswe fallingstones,doomedtodropatarateprescribedbynature,asrigidandpredictableastheforcethat createsacrystal.Eachofusmayfeelhimselfunique,withanintrinsicdestinyneverbeforeseeninthe universe...andyettoGodwemaybemillionsofcrystals,identicalintheeyesoftheCosmicScientist. Andhereisathoughtnottoopleasingastheexternalworldbecomesmoreanimate,wemayfind that wethesocalledhumansarebecoming,andmaytoagreatextentalwayshavebeen, inanimateinthesensethat weareled,directedbybuiltintropisms,ratherthanleading.Soweand ourelaboratelyevolvingcomputersmaymeeteachotherhalfway.Somedayahumanbeing,named perhapsFredWhite,mayshootarobotnamedPeteSomethingorother,whichhascomeoutofa GeneralElectricsfactory,andtohissurpriseseeitweepandbleed.Andtheydyingrobotmayshoot backand,toitssurprise,seeawispofgraysmokearisefromtheelectricpumpthatitsupposedwas Mr.White'sbeatingheart.Itwouldberatheragreatmomentoftruthforbothofthem. Iwouldlikethentoaskthis:whatisit,inourbehavior,thatwecancallspecificallyhuman?Thatis specialtousasalivingspecies?Andwhatisitthat,atleastuptonow,wecanconsignasmerely machinebehavior,or,byextension,insectbehavior,orreflexbehavior?AndIwouldinclude,inthis, thekindofpseudohumanbehaviorexhibitedbywhatwereoncelivingmencreatureswhohave,in waysIwishtodiscussnext,becomeinstruments,means,ratherthanends,andhencetomeanalogs ofmachinesinthe badsense,inthesensethatalthoughbiologicallifecontinues,metabolismgoeson, thesoulforlackofabettertermisnolongerthereoratleastnolongeractive.Andsuchdoes existinourworlditalwaysdid,buttheproductionofsuchinauthentichumanactivityhasbecomea scienceofgovernmentandsuchlikeagencies,now.Thereductionofhumanstomereusemen madeintomachines,servingapurposewhichalthough"good"inanabstractsensehas,forits accomplishment,employedwhatIregardasthegreatestevilimaginable:theplacingonwhatwasa freemanwholaughedandcriedandmademistakesandwanderedoffintofoolishnessandplaya restrictionthatlimitshim,despitewhathemayimagineorthink,tothefulfillingofanaimoutsideof hisownpersonalhoweverpunydestiny.Asif,sotospeak,historyhasmadehimintoits instrument.History,andmenskilledinandtrainedintheuseofmanipulativetechniques, equippedwithdevices,ideologicallyoriented,themselves,insuchaswaythattheuseofthesedevices strikesthemasanecessaryoratleastdesirablemethodofbringingaboutsomeultimatelydesired goal. Ithink,atthispoint,ofTomPaine'scommentaboutoranotherpartyoftheEuropeofhistime:"They admiredthefeathersandforgotthedyingbird."Anditisthe"dyingbird"thatIamconcernedwith. Thedyingandyet,Ithink,beginningonceagaintoreviveintheheartsofthenewgenerationofkids comingintomaturitythedyingbirdofauthentichumanness. ThisiswhatIwishtosaytoyouhere,today.Iwishtodisclosemyhope,myfaith,inthekidswhoare emergingnow.Theirworld,theirvalues.And,simultaneously,theirimperviousnesstothefalsevalues, thefalseidols,thefalsehates,ofthepreviousgenerations.Thefactthatthey,thesefine,goodkids, cannotbereachedormovedoreventouchedbythe"gravity"toreferbacktomypreviousmetaphor thathasmadeusolderpersonsfall,againstourknowledgeorwill,at32feetpersecondpersecond throughoutourlives...whilebelievingthatwe desiredit. Itisasifthesekids,oratleastmanyofthem,someofthem,arefallingatadifferentrate,or,really, notfallingatall.WaltWhitman's"Marchingtothesoundofotherdrummers"mightberephrasedthis way:falling,notinresponsetounexamined,unchallengedalleged"verities,"butinresponsetoanew andinnerandgenuinelyauthentichumandesire. Youth,ofcourse,hasalwaystendedtowardthisinfactthisisreallyadefinitionofyouth.Butright nowitissourgent,if,asIthink,wearemergingbydegreesintohomogeneitywithourmechanical constructs,stepbystep,monthbymonth,untilatimewillperhapscomewhenawriter,forexample, willnotstopwritingbecausesomeoneunpluggedhiselectrictypewriterbutbecausesomeunplugged him.Buttherearekids nowwhocannotbeunpluggedbecausenoelectriccordlinksthemtoany externalpowersource.Theirheartsbeatwithaninterior,privatemeaning.Theirenergydoesn'tcome fromapacemakeritcomesfromastubborn,almostabsurdlyperverse,refusaltobe"shucked,"that is,tobetakeninbytheslogans,theideologyinfactbyanyandallideologyitself,ofwhateversort

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essays & effluvia: The Android and The Human

thatwouldreducethemtoinstrumentsofabstractcauses,however"good."BackinCalifornia,where Icomefrom,Ihavebeenlivingwithsuchkids,participating,totheextentIcan,intheiremerging world.Iwouldliketotellyouabouttheirworldbecauseifweareluckysomethingofthatworld, thosevalues,thatwayoflife,willshapethefutureofourtotalsociety,ourutopiaorantiutopiaofthe future.Asasciencefictionwriter,Imustofcourselookcontinuallyahead,alwaysatthefuture.Itis myhopeandI'dliketocommunicateittoyouinthetremendousspiritofoptimismthatIfeelso urgentlyandstronglythatourcollectivetomorrowexistsinembryonicformintheheads,orrather inthehearts,ofthesekidswhorightnow,attheiryoungages,arepoliticallyandsociologically powerless,unableeven,byourCalifornianlaws,tobuyabottleofbeeroracigarette,tovote,toin anywayshape,beconsultedabout,orbringintoexistencetheofficiallawsthatgoverntheirandour society.Ithink,really,Iamsayingthis:ifyouareinterestedintheworldoftomorrowyoumaylearn somethingaboutit,oratleastreadaboutpossibilitiesthatmayemergetofashionit,inthepagesof Analogand F&SFand Amazing,butactually,tofinditinitsauthenticform,youwilldiscoveritasyou observea16or17yearoldkidashegoesabouthisnaturalperegrinations,hisnormalday.Or,as wesayintheSanFranciscoBayArea,asyouobservehim"cruisingaroundtowntocheckoutthe action."ThisiswhatIhavefound.Thesekids,thatIhaveknown,livedwith,stillknow,inCalifornia, aremysciencefictionstoriesoftomorrow,mysummation,atthispointinmylifeasapersonanda writertheyarewhatIlookaheadtoandsokeenlydesiretoseeprevail.What,morethananything elseIhaveeverencountered,Ibelievein.Andwouldgivemylifefor.Myfullmeasureofdevotion,in thiswarwearefighting,tomaintain,andaugment,whatishumanaboutus,whatisthecoreof ourselves,andthesourceofourdestiny.Ourflightmustbenotonlytothestarsbutintothenatureof ourownbeings.Becauseitisnotmerely wherewego,toAlphaCentaurusorBetelgeuse,butwhatwe areaswemakeourpilgrimagesthere.Ournatureswillbegoingthere,too."Adastra"but"per hominem."Andwemustneverlosesightofthat. Itwould,afterall,beratherdismaying,ifthefirsttwoleggedentitytoemergeonthesurfaceofMars fromaTerranspacecraftweretodeclare,"ThanksbetoGodforlettingme,lettingme,click,letting, click,click...thisisarecording."Andthencatchfireandexplodeasacoupleofwiresgotcrossed somewherewithinitsplasticchest.Andprobablyevenmoredismayingtothisconstructwouldbethe discoverywhenitreturnedtoEarth,tofindthatits"children"hadbeenrecycledalongwiththe aluminumbeercansandCocaColabottlesasfragmentsoftheurbanpollutionproblem.And,finally, whenthisastronautmadeofplasticandwiringandrelayswentdowntotheCityHallofficialsto complain,itwoulddiscoverthatitsthreeyearguaranteehadrunout,and,sincepartswerenolonger availabletokeepitfunctioning,itsbirthcertificatehadbeencancelled. Ofcourse,literally,weshouldnottakethisseriously.Butasametaphorinsomebroadsense maybeweshouldscrutinizemorecloselythetwoleggedentitiesweplantosendup,forexample,to mantheorbitingspacestation.Wedonotwanttolearnthreeyearsfromnowthattheallegedhuman crewhadallmarriedportionsofthespacestationandhadsettleddowntowhirrhappilyforeverafter inconnubialbliss.AsinRayBradbury'ssuperbstoryinwhichafearhauntedcitizenofLosAngeles discoversthatthepolicecartrailinghimhasnodriver,thatitistailinghimonitsown,weshouldbe surethatoneofussitsinthedriver'sseatinMr.Bradbury'sstorytherealhorror,atleasttome,is notthatthepolicecarhasitsowntropismasithoundstheprotagonistbutthat,withinthecar,thereis avacuum.Aplaceunfilled.The absenceofsomethingvitalthatisthehorrificpart,theapocalyptic visionofanightmarefuture.But,I,myself,foreseesomethingmoreoptimistic:hadIwrittenthat storyIwouldhavehadateenagerbehindthewheelofthepolicecarhehadstolenitwhilethepolice officerisinacoffeeshoponhislunchbreak,andthekidisgoingtoresellitbytearingitdowninto parts.Thismaysoundalittlecynicalonmypart,butwouldn'tthisbepreferable?Aswesayin California,whereIlive,whenthepolicecometoinvestigateaburglaryofyourhouse,theyfind,when theyareleaving,thatsomeonehasstrippedthetiresandmotorandtransmissionfromtheircar,and theofficersmusthitchhikebacktoheadquarters.Thisthoughtmaystrikefearintheheartsofthe establishmentpeople,butfranklyitmakemefeelcheerful.Eventhemostbaseschemesofhuman beingsarepreferabletothemostexaltedtropismsofmachines.Ithinkthis,righthere,isoneofthe validinsightspossessedbysomeofthenewyouth:cars,evenpolicecars,areexpendable,canbe replaced.Theyarereallyallalike.Itisthepersoninsidewho,whengone,cannotbeduplicated,atany price.Evenifwedonotlikehimwecannotdowithouthim.Andoncegone,hewillnevercomeback. Andthen,too,ifheismadeintoanandroid,hewillnevercomeback,neverbeagainhuman.Or anyhowmostlikelywillnot. Asthechildrenofourworldfighttodeveloptheirnewindividuality,theiralmostsurlydisrespectfor theveritiesweworship,theybecomeforusandby"us"Imeantheestablishmentasourceof trouble.Idonotnecessarilymeanpoliticallyactiveyouth,thosewhoorganizeintodistinctsocieties withbannersandsloganstome,thatisareductionintothepast,howeverrevolutionarythose slogansmaybe.Irefertotheintrinsicentities,thekidseachofwhomisonhisown,doingwhatwe call"histhing."Hemay,forexample,notbreakthelawbyseatinghimselfonthetracksbeforetroop trainshisfloutingofthelawmayconsistoftakinghiscartoadriveinmoviewithfourkidshiddenin thetrunktoavoidhavingtopay.Still,alawisbeingbroken.Thefirsttransgressionhaspolitical, theoreticalovertonesthesecond,amerelackofagreementthatonemustalwaysdowhatoneis orderedtodoespeciallywhentheordercomesfromaposted,printedsign.Inbothcasesthereis disobedience.WemightapplaudthefirstasMeaningful.Thesecondmerelyirresponsible.Andyetitis inthesecondthatIseeahappierfuture.Afterall,therehavealwaysbeeninhistorymovementsof peopleinorganizedoppositiontothegoverningpowers.Thisismerelyonegroupusingforceagainst another,theoutsversustheins.Ithasfailedtoproduceautopiasofar.AndIthinkalwayswill. BecomingwhatIcall,forlackofabetterterm,anandroid,meansasIsaid,toallowoneselfto becomeameans,ortobepoundeddown,manipulated,madeintoameanswithoutone'sknowledgeor consenttheresultsarethesame.Butyoucannotturnahumanintoanandroidifthathumanis goingtobreaklawseverychancehegets.Androidizationrequiresobedience.And,mostofall, predictability.Itispreciselywhenagivenperson'sresponsetoanygivensituationcanbepredicted withscientificaccuracythatthegatesareopenforthewholesaleproductionoftheandroidlifeform. Whatgoodisaflashlightifthebuldlightsuponlynowandthenwhenyoupressthebutton?Any machinemustalwayswork,tobereliable.Theandroid,likeanyothermachine,mustperformoncue. Butouryouthcannotbecountedontodothisitisunreliable.Eitherthroughlaziness,shortattention span,perversity,criminaltendencieswhateverlabelyouwishtopinonthekidtoexplainthis unreliabilityisfine.Eachmerelymeans:wecantellhimandtellhimwhattodo,butwhenthetime comesforhimtoperform,allthesubliminalinstrucion,alltheideologicalbriefing,allthetranquilizing drugs,allthepsychoterapy,areawaste.Hejustplainwillnotjumpwhenthewhipiscracked.Andso heisofnousetous,thecalcified,entrenchedpowers.Hewillnotseetoitthatheactsasan instrumentbywhichwebothkeepandaugmentthosepowersandtherewardsforourselvesthat gowiththem. Whathashappenedisthattherehasbeentoomuchpersuasion.Thetelevisionset,thenewspapers allthesocalledmassmedia,haveoverdoneit.Wordshaveceasedtomeanmuchtothesekidsthey

Art&Design Automobiles Books CurrentAffairs Design Film Finance FoodandDrink Games Humor Idiot! LIRRCommuterFromHell Media Music NYC Philosophy PhotoCaptionContest! Politics Religion Science SciFi Shopping Sports Television TheBeatles Travel Video War/Defense Web/Tech Weblogs

JamesBrown(Part1&2) BuckshotLeFonque:MusicEvolution

SophisticatedHonky Orgone:TheKillionFloor

OctoberSong AmyWinehouse:Frank

Turpentine JJGrey&Mofro:CountryGhetto

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havehadtolistentoomany.Theycannotbetaught,becausetherehasbeentoogreataneagerness, tooconspicuousamotive,tomakethemlearn.Theantiutopiasciencefictionwritersoffifteenyears ago,andIwasoneofthem,foresawthemasscommunicationspropagandamachinerygrinding everyonedownintomediocrityanduniformity.Butitisnotcomingoutthisway.Whilethecarradio dinsouttheofficialviewonthewarinVietnam,theyoungboyisdisconnectingthespeakersohecan replaceitwithatweeterandawooferinthemiddleofthegovernment'sharanguethespeakeris unattached.And,asheexpertlyhooksupbetteraudiocomponentsinhiscar,theboyfailsevento noticethatthevoiceontheradioistryingtotellhimsomething.thisskilledcraftsmanofakidlistens onlytoseewhetherthereisdistortion,interference,orafrequencycurvethatisn'tfullycompensated. HIsheadisturnedtowardimmediaterealities,thespeakeritself,notthe flatuusvoci dinningfromit. ThetotalitariansocietyenvisionedbyGeorgeOrwellin 1984shouldhavearrivedbynow.The electronicgadgetsarehere.Thegovernmentishere,readytodowhatOrwellanticipated.Sothe powerexists,themotive,andtheelectronichardware.Butthesemeannothing,because,progressively moreandmoreso,nooneislistening.ThenewyouththatIseeistoostupidtoread,toorestlessand boredtowatch,toopreoccupiedtoremember.Thecollectivevoiceoftheauthoritiesiswastedonhim herebels.Butrebelsnotoutoftheoretical,ideologicalconsiderations,onlyoutofwhatmightbecalled pureselfishness.Plusacarelesslackofregardforthedreadconsequencestheauthoritiespromisehim ifhefailstoobey.Hecannotbebribedbecausewhathewantshecanbuild,steal,orinsomecurious, intricatewayacquireforhimself.Hecannotbeintimidatedbecauseonthestreetsandinhishomehe hasseenandparticipatedinsomuchviolencethatitfailstocowhim.Hemerelygetsoutofitsway whenitthreatens,or,ifhecan'tescape,hefightsback.Whenthelockedpolicevancomestocarry himofftotheconcentrationcamptheguardswilldiscoverthatwhileloadingthevantheyhavefailed tonotethatanotherequallyhopelessjuvenilehasslashedthetires.Thevanisoutofcommision.And whilethetiresarebeingreplaced,theotheryouthsiphonsoutallthegasfromthegastankforhis soupedupChevroletImpalaandhasspedofflongago. Theabsolutelyhorribletechnologicalsocietythatwasourdream,ourvisionofthefuture.Wecould foreseenothingequippedwithenoughpower,guile,orwhatever,toimpedethecomingofthat dreadful,nightmaresociety.Itneveroccuredtousthatthedelinquentkidsmightabortitoutofthe sheerperversemaliceoftheirlittleindividualsouls,Godblessthem.Here,asacaseinpoint,aretwo excerptsfromthemediathefirst,quotedinthatepitomeofthenauseating, Time,issohelpme what Timecalls"theultimatedreamintelephoneservice"asdescribedbyHaroldS.Osborne,former chiefengineerofAT&T:

YouCanHaveWatergateButGimme SomeBucksAndI'llBeStraight(Parts1 &2) FredWesley&TheJBs:JamesBrown's FunkyPeople(Part2)

Nobody RyanShaw:ThisIsRyanShaw

Home MarcBroussard:Carencro

GoodExcuse TheJohnButlerTrio:GrandNational

"Wheneverababyisbornanywhereintheworld,heisgivenatbirthatelephonenumberfor life.Assoonashecantalk,heisgivenawatchlikedevicewithtenlittlebuttonsononeside andascreenontheother.Whenhewishestotalkwithanyoneintheworld,hewillpullout thedeviceandpunchonthekeysthenumber.Then,turningthedeviceover,hewillhearthe voiceofhisfriendandseehisfaceonthescreen,incolorandinthreedimensions.Ifhedoes notseehimandhearhim,hewillknowthathisfriendisdead."

SwingLow RoccoDeLuca&TheBurden:ITrustYou ToKillMe

Idon'tknowIreallydon'tfindthisfunny.Itisreallysad.Itisheartbreaking.Anyhowitisnotgoing tohappen.Thekidshavealreadyseentothat."Phonefreaks,"theyarecalled,theseparticularkids. Thisiswhatthe L.A.Timessays,inanarticledatedearlierthisyear:

Me&Mr.Jones AmyWinehouse:BacktoBlack

"They(thephonefreaks)allarrivedcarryingcustomizedMF'ersmultifrequencytonesignals thephonefreaktermforabluebox.ThehomemadeMF'ersvariedinsizeanddesign.One wasasophisticatedpockettransistorbuiltbyaPhDinengineering,anotherthesizeofacigar boxwithanactualcouplerattachingtothephonereceiver.Sofar,thesephonefreakshad devised22waystomakeafreecallwithoutusingcreditcards.Incaseofaslipup,thephone freaksalsoknowhowtodetect'supervision,'phonecompanyjargonforanearlyinaudibletone whichcomesonthelinebeforeanyoneanswerstoregistercallingcharges.Assoonasphone freaksdetectthedreaded'supervision,'theyhangupfast.

YouCanHaveWatergateButGimme SomeBucksAndI'llBeStraight(Parts1 &2) FredWesley&TheJBs:JamesBrown's FunkyPeople(Part2)

"CaptainCrunchwasstillinthephoneboothpullingtheredswitchesonhisfancy computerizedbox.HegothisnamefromthewhistlefoundintheCap'nCrunchbreakfast cerealbox.Crunchdiscoveredthatthewhistlehasafrequencyof2600cyclespersecond,the exactfrequencythetelephonecompanyusestoindicatethatalineisidle,andofcourse,the firstfrequencyphonefreakslearnhowtowhistletoget'disconnect,'whichallowsthemtopass fromonecircuittoanother.Crunch,intent,hunchedoverhisboxtoreadalistofcountrycode numbers.Heimpersonatedtotheoverseasoperator,andcalledItaly.Inlessthanaminutehe reachedaprofessorofclassicalGreekwritingsattheUniversityofFlorence."

Thisishowthefuturehasactuallycomeot.Noneofussciencefictionwritersforesawphonefreaks. Fortunately,neitherdidthephonecompany,whichotherwisewouldhavetakenoverbynow.Butthisis thedifferencebetweendiremythandwarm,merryreality.Anditisthekids,unique,wonderful, unhamperedbyscruplesinanytraditionalsense,thathavemadethedifference. Speakinginsciencefictionterms,Inowforeseeananarchistictotalitarianstateahead.Tenyearsfrom nowaTVstreetreporterwillasksomekidwhoispresidentoftheUnitedStates,andthekidwilladmit thathedoesn'tknow."ButthePresidentcanhaveyouexecuted,"thereporterwillprotest."Orbeaten orthrownintoprisonorallyourrightstakenaway,allyourpropertyeverything."Andtheboywill reply,"Yeah,socouldmyfatheruptolastmonthwhenhehadhisfatalcoronary.Heusedtosaythe samething."Endofinterview.Andwhenthereportergoestogatheruphisequipmenthewillfindthat onehiscolor3Dstereomicrophonevidlenssystemsismissingthekidhasswipeditfromhimwhile thereporterwasblabbingon. If,asitseems,weareintheprocessofbecomingatotalitariansocietyinwhichthestateapparatusis allpowerful,theethicsmostimportantforthesurvivalofthetrue,free,humanindividualwouldbe: cheat,lie,evade,fakeit,beelsewhere,forgedocuments,buildimprovedelectronicgadgetsinyour garagethat'lloutwitthegadgetsusedbytheauthorities.Ifthetelevisionscreenisgoingtowatchyou, rewireitlateatnightwhenyou'repermittedtoturnitoffrewireitinsuchawaythatthepolice flunkymonitoringthetransmissionfromyourlivingroommirrorsback hislivingroomat hishouse. Whenyousignaconfessionunderduress,forgethenameofoneofthepoliticalspieswho'sinfiltrated yourmodelairplaneclub.Payyourfinesincounterfeitmoneyorrubberchecksorstolencreditcards.

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Giveafalseaddress.Arriveatthecourthouseinastolencar.Tellthejudgethatifhesentencesyou, youwillsubstituteaspirintabletsforhisdaughter'sbirthcontrolpills.OrputHisHonoronamailinglist forpornographicmagazines.Or,ifallelsefails,threatenhimwithyourusinghistelephonecreditcard numbertomakeunnecessarylongdistancecallstocitiesonotherplanets.Itwillnotbenecessaryto blowupthecourthouseanymore.Simplyfindsomewaytodefamethejudgeyousawhimdriving homeonenightonthewrongsideoftheroadwithhisheadlightsoffandafifthofSeagram'sVO proppedupagainsthissteeringwheel.Andhisbumperstickerthatnightread:GRANTFULLRIGHTSTO USHOMOSEXUALS.Hehasofcoursetornthestickeroffbynow,butbothyouandtenofyourfriends witnessedit.Andtheyareallatpayphonesrightnow,readytophonethenewstothelocalpapers. And,ifheisstillsofoolishastosentenceyou,atleastaskhimtogivebackthelittletaperecorder youinadvertentlyleftinhisbedroom.Sincetheoffswitchonitisbroken,ithasprobablyrecordedits entiretendayreeloftapebynow.Resultsshouldbeinteresting.Andifhetriestodestroythetape, youwillhavehimarrestedforvandalism,which,inthetotalitarianstateoftomorrow,willbethe supremecrime.Whatisyourlifeworthinhiseyescomparedwithathreedollarreelofmylartape? Thetapeisprobablygovernmentproperty,likeeverythingelse,sotodestroyitwouldbeacrime againstthestate.Thefirststepinacalculated,sinisterinsurrection. Iwonderifyourecallthesocalled"brainmapping"developedbyPenfieldrecentlyhewasableto locatetheexactcentersinthebrainfromwhicheachsensation,emotion,andresponsecame.By stimulatingoneminuteareawithanelectrode,alaboratoryratwastransfiguredintoastateof perpetualbliss."They'llbedoingthattoallofus,too,soon,"apessimisticfriendsaidtome,regarding that."Oncetheelectrodeshavebeenimplanted,Theycangetustofeel,think,doanythingTheywant." Well,todothis,thegovernmentwouldhavetoletoutacontractforthemanufactureofabillionsets ofelectrodes,and,intheircustomaryway,theywouldawardthecontracttothelowestbidder,who wouldbuildsubstandardelectrodesoutofsecondhandparts...thetechniciansimplantingtheelectrodes inthebrainsofmillionsuponmillionsofpeoplewouldbecomeboredandcareless,and,whenthe switchwouldbepressedforthetotalpopulationtofeelprofoundgriefatthedeathofsome governmentofficialprobablytheministeroftheinterior,inchargeoftheslavelaborrehabilitation campsitwouldallgetfouledup,andthepopulation,likethatlaboratoryrat,wouldgointocollective seizuresofmerriment.Orthesubstandardwiringconnectingthebrainsofthepopulationwiththe WashingtonD.C.ThoughtControlCenterwouldoverload,andasurgeofelectricitywouldrollbackward overthelinesandsetfiretotheWhiteHouse. Oristhisjustwishfulthinkingonmypart?Alittlefantasyaboutafuturesocietyweshouldreallyfeel apprehensivetoward?

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Thecontinuedelaborationofstatetyrannysuchasweinsciencefictioncirclesanticipateintheworld oftomorrowourwholepreoccupationwithwhatwecallthe"antiutopian"societythisgrowthof stateinvasionintotheprivacyoftheindividual,itsknowingtoomuchabouthim,andthen,whenit knows,orthinksitknows,somethingitfrownson,itspowerandcapacitytosquashtheindividualas wethoroughlycomprehend,thisevilprocessutilizestechnologyasitsinstrument.Theinventionsof appliedscience,suchasthealmostmiraculouslysophisticatedsensordevicesrightnowtravelingback fromwaruseinVietnamforadaptationtocivilianuseherethesepassiveinfraredscanners, sniperscopes,thesechromeboxeswithdialsandgaugesthatcanpenetratebrickandstone,cantell theuserwhatisbeingsaidanddoneamileawaywithinatightlysealedbuilding,beitconcretebunker orapartmentbuilding,can,liketheweaponsbeforethem,fallintowhattheauthoritieswouldcall"the wronghands"thatis,intothehandsoftheverypeoplebeingmonitored.Likeallmachines,these universaltransmitters,recordingdevices,heatpatterndiscriminators,don'tinthemselvescarewho they'rebeingusebyoragainst.Thesceneofastreetfracaswhere,forexample,somejuvenilehas droppedawaterfilledballoonintothesportscarofawealthytaxpayerthisvehicle,howeverfast, howeverwellarmedandanimatedbythespiritofrighteousvengeance,canbespottedbythesame lensbywhichitssuperiorsbecameawareofthedisturbanceinthefirstplace...andnotificationofits impendingarrivalonthescenecanbeflashedbythesamewalkietalkieArmysurplusgadgetbywhich crowdcontrolismaintainedwhenblackgathertoprotestfortheirjustrights.Beforetheabsolute poweroftheabsolutestateoftomorrowcanachieveitsvictoryitmayfindsuchthingsasthis:when thepoliceshowupatyourdoortoarrestyouforthinkingunapprovedthoughts,ascanningsensor whichyou'veboughtandbuiltintoyourdoordiscriminatestheintrudersfromcustomaryfriends,and alertsyoutoyourperil. Letmegiveyouanexample.Attheenormousciviccenterbuildinginmycounty,afantasticBuck Rogerstypeofplasticandchromebackdroptoabadsciencefictionfilm,eachvisitormustpass throughanelectronicfieldthatsetsoffanalarmifhehasonhimtoomuchmetal,beitkeys,awatch, pairofscissors,bomb,.308Winchesterrifle.Whenthehooppingsanditalwayspingsformea uniformedpolicemanimmediatelyfullysearchesthevisitor.Asignwarnsthatifanyweaponis discoveredonavisitor,it'salloverforhimandthesignalsowarnsthatifanyillegaldrugsare foundonavisitor,duringthisweaponssearch,he'sdonefor,too.Now,Ithinkevenyoupeopleup hereinCanadaareawareofthereasonforthismethodicalweaponssearchofeachvisitortotheMarin CountyCivicCenterithastodowiththetragicshootoutayearorsoago.But,andtheyhave officiallypostednoticeofthis,thevisitorwillbeinspectedfornarcoticspossession,too,andthishas nothingtodowitheithertheshootoutorwithanydangertothebuildingitselforthepersonswithinit. Anelectroniccheckpoint,legitimatelysetuptoabortasituationinwhichexplosivesorweaponsare broughtintotheCivicCenter,hasbeenassignedanaddedpolicefunctionconnectedwiththeauthentic issueonlybythecommonthreadofpenalcodeviolation.Tovisitthecountylibrary,whichisinthat building,youaresubjecttosearchmustinfactyieldabsolutelyandunconditionallyforpossession withoutjuridicalprotection,builtintotheverybasisofourAmericancivilrightssystem,thatsome clearandevidentindicationexistthatyoumaybecarryingnarcoticsbeforeasearchcanbecarried againstyou.DuringthissearchI'veevenhadtheuniformedofficerattheentranceexaminethebooks andpapersIwascarrying,toseeiftheywereacceptable.Thenextstep,inthemonthstocome,would betohavesuchmandatorycheckpointsatbusyintersectionsandatallpublicbuildingsincluding banksandsoforth.Onceithasbeenestablishedthattheauthoritiescansearchyouforillegaldrugs becauseyou'rereturningabooktothelibrary,Ithinkyoucanseejusthowfarthetyrannyofthestate cangoonceithasprovideditselfwithanelectronichoopthatregistersthepresenceofsomething weallcarryonus:keys,apairoffingernailclippers,coins.The blip,ratheraquaintlittlesound,which yousetoff,opensadoornotleadingtothecountylibrarybuttopossibleimprisonment.Itisthatblip thatushersinalltherest.Andhowmanyotherblipsarewesettingoff,orourchildrenwillbesetting off,incontextthatweknownothingaboutyet?Butmyoptimisticpoint:thekidsoftoday,havingbeen bornintothisallpervasivesociety,arefullyawareofandtakeforgrantedtheactivityofsuchdevices. OneafternoonwhenIwasparkingmycaronthelotbeforeagrocerystore,Istarted,asusual,tolock allthecardoorstokeeptheparcelsinthebackseatfrombeingstolen."Oh,youdon'thavetolockup thecar,"thegirlwithmesaid."ThisparkinglotisunderconstantclosedcircuitTVscan.Everycar hereandeveryoneisbeingwatchedallthetimenothingcanhappen."Sowewentinsidethestore leavingthecarunlocked.Andofcourseshewasrightbornintothissociety,shehaslearnedtoknow suchthings.AndInowhaveapassiveinfraredscanningsysteminmyownhomeinSantaVenetia, connectedwithwhatiscalleda"digitaltransmittingbox"which,whentriggeredoffbythescanner,

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AllRight,OK,YouWin CountBasie&JoeWilliams:CountBasie SwingsJoeWilliamsSings

essays & effluvia: The Android and The Human

transmitsacodedsignalbydirectlinetothenearestlawenforcementagency,notifyingthemthat intrudershaveenteredmyhouse.Thistotallyselfoperatedelectronicdetectionsystemfunctions whetherIamathomeornot.Itisabletodiscriminatebetweenthepresenceofahumanbeingandan animal.Ithasitsownpowersupply.Ifthelineleadingfromitiscut,groundedoreventamperedwith, thesignalisimmediatelyreleased,orifanyotherpartofsystemisworkedon.AndWestinghousewill reinstallitwhereverIlive:Iownthecomponentsforlife.Eventually,WestinghouseSecurityhopes,all homesandbusinesseswillbeprotectedthisway.Thecompanyhasbuiltandmaintainsa communicationscenterneareachcommunityinthecountry.Ifthereisnopoliceagencywillingorable toacceptthesignal,thentheirowncommunicationscenterrespondsandguaranteestodispatchlaw enforcementpersonnelwithinfourminutesthatis,thegoodguyswiththegunswillbeatyourdoor withinthattime.Itdoesnotmatteriftheintruderenterswithapasskeyorblowsinthewholesideof thehouseor,astheytellmeit'sbeingdonenow,boresdownthroughtheroofhoweverhegotin, forwhateverreason,themechanismrespondsandtransmitsitssignal.OnlyIcanturnthesystemoff. AndifIforgetto,thenIsuppose,anyhowit'salloverforme. Someonesuggested,bytheway,thatperhapsthispassiveinfraredscannersweepingouttheinterior ofmyhouseconstantly"mightbewatchingmeandreportingbacktotheauthoritieswhateverIdo rightthereinmyownlivingroom."Well,whatIamdoingissittingatmydeskwithpenandpaper tryingtofigureouthowtopayWestinghousethe$840Iowethemforthesystem.AsI'vegotitworked outnow,IthinkifIselleverythingIown,includingmyhouse,Icanohwell.Oneotherthing.IfI enterthehousemyhouseandthesystemfindsI'mcarryingillegalnarcoticsonmyperson,it doesn'tblipitcausesbothmeandthehouseandeverythinginittoselfdestruct. Streetdrugs,bytheway,areamajorproblemintheareawhereIlivethatis,theillegaldrugsyou buyonthestreetareoftenadulterated,cut,orjustplainnotwhatyou'retoldtheyare.Youwindup poisoned,dead,orjustplain"burned,"whichmeans"youdon'tgetoff,"whichmeansyoupaidten dollarsforagramofmilksugar.Soanumberoffreelabshavebeensetupforthespecificpurposeof anylyzingstreetdrugsyoumailthemaportionofthedrugyou'veboughtandtheytellyouwhat'sinit, theideabeing,ofcourse,thatifithasstrychnineorfilmdeveloperorflashpowderinit,youshould knowbeforeyoutakeit.Well,thepolicesawthroughintothequote"real"purposeoftheselabsatone glance.Theyactasqualitycontrolstationsforthedrugmanufacturer's.Let'ssayyou'remaking methedrineinyourbathtubathomeacomplicatedprocess,butfeasibleandsoeverytimeanew batchcomesout,youmailasampletooneoftheselabsforanalysis...andtheywriteback,"No,you haven'tgotitquiterightyet,butifyoucookitjustperhapsfiveminuteslonger..."Thisiswhatthe policefear.Thisishowthepolicementalityworks.And,interestingly,sodoesthedrugpushers mentalitythepushersarealreadydoingpreciselythat.Idon'tknow...tomeitseemsasortofnice idea,thedrugpushersbeinginterestedinwhatthey'reselling.Backintheolddaystheycaredonly thatyoulivedlongenoughtopayforwhatyoupurchased.Afterthat,youwereonyourown. Yes,aseveryresponsibleparentknows,streetdrugsareaproblem,amenacetotheirkids.I completely,emphaticallyagree.Atonetimeyoumayhavereadthisinbiographicalmaterial accompanyingmystoriesandnovelsIwasinterestedinexperimentingwithpsychedelicdrugs.That isover,forme.IhaveseentoomanyruinedlivesinourdrugcultureinCalifornia.Toomanysuicides, psychoses,organicirreversibledamagetobothheartandbrain.Butthereareotherdrugs,not illegal,notstreetdrugs,notcutwithflashpowderormilksugar,andnotmislabeled,thatworryme evenmore.Thesearereputable,establishmentdrugs,prescribedbyreputabledoctorsorgivenin reputablehospitals,especiallypsychiatrichospitals.Thesearepacificationdrugs.Imentionthisin ordertoreturntomymainpreoccupation,here:thehumanversustheandroid,andhowtheformer canbecomecaninfactbemadetobecomethelatter.Thecalculated,widespread,andthroughly sanctioneduseofspecifictranquilizingdrugssuchasthephenothiazinesmaynot,likecertainillegal streetdrugs,producepermanentbraindamage,buttheycanandgodforbid,theydoproduce whatIamafraidImustcall"soul"damage.Letmeamplify. Ithasbeendiscoveredrecentlythatwhatwecallmentalillnessormentaldisturbancesuch syndromesastheschizophreniasandthecyclothymicphenomenaofmanicdepressionmayhaveto dowithfaultybrainmetabolism,thefailureofcertainbraincatalystssuchasserotoninand noradrenalintoactproperly.Onetheoryholdsthat,understress,toomuchamineoxidaseproduction causeshallucinations,disorientations,andgeneralmentationalbreakdown.Suddenshock,especiallyat random,andgriefproducing,suchaslossofsomeoneorsomethingdear,orthelossofsomething vitalandtakenforgrantedthisstartsanoverproductionofnoradrenalinflowingdowngenerally unusedneuralpathways,overloadingbraincircuits,andproducingbehaviorwhichwecallpsychotic. Mentalillness,then,isabiochemicalphenomenon.Ifcertaindrugs,suchasthephenothiazines,are introduced,brainmetabolismregainsnormalbalancethecatalystserotoninisutilizedproperly,and thepatientrecovers.OrifaMAOIdrugisintroducedamonoamineoxidaseinhibatorresponseto stressbecomesviableandthepersonisabletofunctionnormally.Orandthisrightnowistheprince charminghopeofthemedicalprofessionlithiumcarbonate,iftakenbythedisturbedpatient,will limitanotherwiseoverabundantproductionorreleaseofthehormonenoradrenalin,which,mostofall, actstocauseirrationalthoughtsandbehaviorofasociallyunacceptablesort.Theentireamplitudeof feelings,wildgrief,anger,fear,anyandallintensefeelings,willbereducedtopropermeasurebythe presenceofthelithiumcarbonateinthebraintissue.Thepersonwillbecomestable,predictable,nota menacetoothers.Hewillfeelthesameandthinkthesameprettymuchalldaylong,dayafterday. Theauthoritieswillnotbegreetedbyanymoresuddensurprisesemanatingfromhim. Inthefieldofabnormalpsychology,theschizoidpersonalitystructureiswelldefinedinitthereisa continualpaucityoffeeling.Thepersonthinksratherthanfeelshiswaythroughlife.Andasthegreat SwisspsychiatristCarlJungshowed,thiscannotbesuccessfullymaintainedonemustmeetmostof crucialrealitywithafeelingresponse.Anyhow,thereisacertainparallelbetweenwhatIcallthe "android"personalityssandtheschizoid.Bothhaveamechanical,reflexquality. Ionceheardaschizoidpersonexpresshimselfinallseriousnessthisway:"Ireceivesignalsfrom others.ButIcan'tgenerateanyofmyownuntilIgetrecharged.Byaninjection."Iam,Iswear, quotingexactly.Imagineviewingoneselfandothersthisway.Signals.Asiffromanotherstar.The personhasreifiedhimselfentirely,alongwitheveryonearoundhim.Howawful.Here,clearly,thesoul isdeadorneverlived. Anotherqualityoftheandroidmindistheinabilitytomakeexceptions.Perhapsthisistheessenceof it:thefailuretodroparesponsewhenitfailstoaccomplishresults,butrathertorepeatitoverand overagain.Lowerlifeformsareskillfulinofferingthesameresponsecontinually,asareflashlights. Anattemptwasmadeoncetouseapigeonasaqualitycontroltechnicianonanassemblyline.Part afterpart,endlessthousandsofthem,passedbythepigeonhourafterhour,andthekeeneyeofthe pigeonviewedthemfordeviationsfromtheacceptabletolerance.Thepigeoncoulddiscernadeviation smallerthanthatwhichahuman,doingthesamequalitycontrol,could.Whenthepigeonsawapart thatwasmismade,itpeckedabutton,whichrejectedthepart,andatthesametimedroppedagrain ofcorntothepigeonasareward.Thepigeoncouldgoeighteenhourswithoutfatigue,andlovedits work.Evenwhenthegraincornfailedduetothesupplyrunningout,Iguessthepigeoncontinued

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eagerlytorejectsubstandardparts.Ithadtobeforciblyremovedfromitsperch,finally. Now,ifIhadbeenthatpigeon,Iwouldhavecheated.WhenIfelthungry,Iwouldhavepeckedthe buttonandrejectedapart,justtogetmygrainofcorn.Thatwouldhaveoccuredtomeafteralong periodpassedinwhichIdiscernednofaultyparts.Becausewhatwouldhappentothepigeonif,god forbid, nopartseverwerefaulty?Thepigeonwouldstarve.Integrity,undersuchcircumstances,would besuicidal.Really,thepigeonhadalifeanddeathinterestinfindingfaultyparts.Whatwouldyoudo, wereyouthepigeon,and,aftersayfourdays,you'ddiscernednofaultypartsandwerebecomingonly feathersandbone?Wouldethicswinout?Ortheneedtosurvive?Tome,thelifeofthepigeonwould beworthmorethantheaccuracyofthequalitycontrol.IfIwerethepigeonbuttheandroidmind:"I maybedyingofhunger,"theandroidwouldsay,"butI'llbedamnedifI'llrejectaperfectlygoodpart." Anyhow,tome,theauthenticallyhumanmindwouldgetboredandrejectapartnowandthenat random,justtobreakthemonotony.Andnoamountofcircuittestingcouldreestablishitsreliability. Letmenowexpressanotherelementthatstrikesmeasanessentialkeyrevealingtheauthentically human.Itisnotonlyanintrinsicpropertyoftheorganism,butthesituationinwhichinfindsitself. Thatwhichhappenstoit,thatwhichitisconfrontedby,piercedbyandmustdealwithcertain agonizingsituationscreate,onthespot,ahumanwhereamomentbeforetherewasonly,astheBible says,clay.SuchasituationcanbereadoffthefaceofmanyoftheMedievalpietas:thedeadChrist heldinthearmsofhismother.Twofaces,actually:thatofaman,thatofawoman.Oddly,inmanyof thesepietas,thefaceoftheChristseemsmucholderthanthatofhismother.Itisifanancientmanis heldbyayoungwomanshehassurvivedhim,andyetshecamebeforehim.Hehasagedthroughhis entirelifecycleshelooksnowperhapsasshealwaysdid,nottimeless,intheclassicalsense,butable totranscendwhathashappened. Hehasnotsurviveditthisshowsonhisface.Insomewaythey haveexperiencedittogether,buttheyhavecomeoutofitdifferently.Itwastoomuchforhimit destroyedhim.Perhapstheinformationtobegainedhereistorealizehowmuchgreatercapacitya womanhasforsufferingthatis,notthatshesuffersmorethanamanbutthatshecanendurewhere hecan't.Survivalofthespeciesliesinherabilitytodothis,nothis.Christmaydieonthecross,and thehumanracecontinues,butifMarydies,it'sallover. Ihaveseenyoungwomensayeighteenornineteenyearsoldsufferandsurvivethingsthatwould havebeentoomuchforme,andIthinkreallyforalmostanyman.Theirhumanness,astheypassed throughtheseordeals,developedasanequationbetweenthemandtheirsituation.Idon'tmeanto offerthemushydoctrinethatsufferingsomehowennobles,thatit'ssomehowagoodthingonehears thisnowandthenaboutgeniuses,"Theywouldn'thavebeengeniusesiftheyhadn'tsuffered,"etc.I merelymeanthatpossiblythedifferencebetweenwhatIcallthe"android"mentalityandthehumanis thatthelatterpassedthroughsomethingtheformerdidnot,oratleastpassedthroughitand respondeddifferently changed,altered,whatitdidandhencewhatitwasit became.Isensethe androidrepeatingoverandoveragainsomelimitedreflexgesture,likeaninsectraisingitswings threateninglyoverandoveragain,oremittingabadsmell.Itsonedefenseorresponseworks,orit doesn't.But,caughtinsuddentrouble,theorganismthatismademorehuman,thatbecomesprecisely atthatmomenthuman,wrestlesdeepwithinitselfandoutofitselftofindoneresponseafteranother aseachfails.OnthefaceofthedeadChristthereisanexhaustion,almostadehydration,asifhetried outeverypossibilityinaneffortnottodie.Henevergaveup.Andeventhoughhediddie,didfall,he diedahuman.Thatiswhatshowsonhisface. "Theendeavortopersistinitsownbeing,"Spinozasaid,"istheessenceoftheindividualthing."The chthonicdeities,theEarthMother,weretheoriginalsourceofreligiousconsolationbeforethe solarcentricmasculinedeitiesthatarrivedlaterinhistoryaswellastheoriginofmanmancame fromHerandreturnstoHer.Theentireancientworldbelievedthatjustaseachmancameforthinto individuallifefromawomanhewouldeventuallyreturnandfindpeaceatlast.Attheendoflifethe oldmaninoneofChaucer'sCanterburyTales"goesaboutbothmorningandlateandknocksagainst thegroundwithhissticksaying'Mother,mother,letmein'"justasattheendofIbsen's Ghosts,the middleagedman,regressingintochildhoodattheendofhislifeashediesofparesis,saystohis mother,"Mother,givemethesun."AsSpinozapointedoutsoclearly,eachfinitething,eachindividual man,eventuallyperishes...andhisonlytrueconsolation,asheperishes,aseachsocietyinfact perishes,isthisreturntothemother,thewoman,theEarth. Butifwomanistheconsolationforman,whatistheconsolationforwoman?For her ? Ioncewatchedayoungwomanundergoagoniesshewaseighteenyearsoldthat,justwitnessing her,weretoomuchforme.Shesurvived,Ithink,betterthanIdid.Iwantedtoconsoleher,helpher, buttherewasnothingIcoulddo.Exceptbewithher.WhentheEarthMotherissuffering,thereisdamn littlethatindividualfinitemancando.Thisyounggirl'sboyfriendwouldn'tmarryherbecauseshewas pregnantbyanotherboyhewouldn'tlivewithherorfindheraplacetostayuntilshegotanabortion aboutwhichhewoulddonothinghewouldn'tevenspeaktoheruntilitwasoverandthen,orso hepromised,hewouldmarryher.Well,shegottheabortion,andwebroughthertomyhome afterwardtorestandrecover,andofcoursethesonofabitchneverhadanythingtodowithher again.Iwaswithherduringthedaysfollowingherabortion,andreallyshehaddreadfultime,alonein apoor,largewardinahospitalinanothercity,nevervisitedexceptbymeandacoupleoffriends, neverphonedbyherboyfriendorherownfamily,andthenatmyhome,afterward,whensherealized herboyfriendwasnevergoingtogettheapartmentforthemshehadplannedon,beenpromised,and herfriendshisfriends,toohadlostinterestinherandlookeddownonherIsawherdayby daydeclineandwiltanddespair,andbecomewildwithfearwherewouldshego?Whatwouldbecome ofher?Shehadnofriends,nojob,nofamily,notevenanyclothestospeakofnothing.Andshe couldn'tstaywithmeaftershehealedup.Sheusedtolieinbed,suffering,holdingthepuppysheandI gotatthepoundthepuppywasallshehad.Andonedaysheleft,andIneverfoundoutwhereshe went.Shenevercontactedmeagainshewantedtoforgetmeandthehospitalandthedaysofhealing andbleedingandlearningthetruthabouthersituation.Andsheleftthepuppybehind.Ihaveitnow. WhatIrememberinparticularwasthatinthetwoweeksshewaswithmeafterherabortionher breastsswelledwithmilkherbody,atleastportionsofit,didn'tknowthatthechildwasdead,that therewasnochild.Itwas,shesaid,"inabottle."Isawher,allatonce,asasuddenwoman,even thoughshehad,herself,declined,destroyed,hermotherhoodbabyornot,shewasawoman, althoughherminddidnottellherthatshestillworethecottonnightgownshehadworn,Iguess, whilelivingathomewhileshewenttohighschoolperhapsthesameeasytowashcottonnightgown shehadwornsincefiveorsixyearsold.Shestilllikedtogotothemarketandbuychocolatemilkand comicbooks.UnderCalifornialawit'sillegalforhertobuyorsmokecigarettes.Therearecertain movies,manyinfact,thatourlawpreventsherfromseeing.Movies,supposedly,aboutlife.Onthe triptoSanFranciscotoseethedoctoraboutgettingtheabortionshewasfiveandhalfmonths pregnant,nearingwhatCaliforniaconsidersthelimitofsafetysheboughtapurplestuffedtoyanimal for89cents.Ipaidforitshehadonly25cents.Shetookitwithherwhensheleftmyhome.Shewas thebravest,brightest,funniest,sweetestpersonIeverknew.Thetragedyofherlifebentherand virtuallybrokeher,despiteallIcoulddo.ButIthink,Ibelievetheforcethatisher,sotospeak theswellingintomaturityofherbreasts,thelookingforwardintothefutureofherphysicalbody,even

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HenryHazlitt:EconomicsinOneLesson: 50thAnniversaryEdition

LeahBendavidVal:ThroughtheLens: NationalGeographic'sGreatest Photographs

WilliamGreider:TheSoulofCapitalism :OpeningPathstoaMoralEconomy

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KathleenMeyer:HowtoShitinthe Woods:AnEnvironmentallySound ApproachtoaLostArt

essays & effluvia: The Android and The Human

atthemomentthatmentallyandspirituallyshewasvirtuallydestroyedIhope,anyhow,thatthat forcewillprevail.Ifitdoesnot,thenthereisnothingleft,asfarasIamconcerned.ThefutureasI conceiveitwillnotexist.BecauseIcanonlyimagineitaspopulatedbymodest,unnoticedpersonslike her.ImyselfwillnotbeapartofitorevenshapeitallIcandoisdepictitasIseetheingredients now,thegentlelittleunhappybravelonelylovingcreatureswhoaregoingonsomewhereelse, unknowntomenow,notrecallingmebut,Ipray,livingon,pickinguplife, forgetting"thosewho cannotrememberthepastarecondemnedtorepeatit,"wearetold,butperhapsitisbetterperhaps itistheonlyviablewaytobeabletoforget.Ihopeshe,inherhead,hasforgottenwhathappened toher,justasherbodyeitherforgotthelackofbaby,thedeadbaby,orneverknew.Itisakindof blindness,maybearefusal,orinability,tofacereality. ButIhaveneverhadtoohigharegardforwhatisgenerallycalled"reality."Reality,tome,isnotso muchsomethingthatyouperceive,butsomethingyoumake.Youcreateitmorerapidlythanitcreates you.ManistherealityGodcreatedoutofdustGodistherealitymancreatescontinuallyoutofhis ownpassions,hisowndetermination."Good,"forexamplethatisnotaqualityorevenaforceinthe worldorabovetheworld,butwhatyoudowiththebitsandpiecesofmeaningless,puzzling, disappointing,evencruelandcrushingfragmentsallaroundusthatseemtobepiecesleftover, discarded,fromanotherworldentirelythatdid,maybe,makesense. Theworldofthefuture,tome,isnotaplace,butanevent.Aconstruct,notbyoneauthorintheform ofwordswrittentomakeupanovelorstorythatotherpersonssitinfrontof,outsideof,andread butaconstructinwhichthereisnoauthorandnoreadersbutagreatmanycharactersinsearchofa plot.Well,thereisnoplot.Thereisonlythemselvesandwhattheydoandsaytoeachother,what theybuildtosustainallofthemindividuallyandcollectively,likeahugeumbrellathatletsinlightand shutsoutthedarknessatthesameinstant.Whenthecharactersdie,thenovelends.Andthebookfalls backintodust.Outofwhichitcame.Orback,likethedeadChrist,intothearmsofhiswarm,tender, grieving,comprehending,lovingmother.Andanewcyclebegingsfromherheisreborn,andthe story,oranotherstory,perhapsdifferent,evenbetterstartsup.Astorytoldbythecharacterstoone another."Ataleofsoundandfury"signifyingverymuch.Thebestwehave.Ouryesterday,our tomorrow,thechildwhocamebeforeusandthewomanwhowillliveafterusandoutlast,byhervery existing,whatwehavethoughtanddone. Inmynovel,THETHREESTIGMATAOFPALMERELDRITCH,whichisastudyofabsoluteevil,the protagonist,afterhisencounterwithEldritch,returnstoEarthanddictatesamemo.Thislittlesection appearsaheadofthetextofthenovel. Itisthenovel,actually,thisparagraphtherestisasortof postmortem,orrather,aflashbackinwhichallthatcametoproducetheoneparagraphbookis presented.Seventyfivethousandwords,whichIlaboredovermanymonths,merelyexplains,is merelytheretoprovidebackground,totheonesmallstatementinthebookthatmatters.(Itis,bythe way,missingfomtheGermanedition.)ThisstatementisformemycredonotsomuchinGod, eitheragoodgodorabadgodorbothbutinourselves.Itgoesasfollows,andthisisallIactually havetosayorwantevertosay:

ThomasS.Kuhn:TheStructureof ScientificRevolutions

WarrenBuffettOracleofOmaha

RobertBaer:SleepingWiththeDevil: HowWashingtonSoldOurSoulforSaudi Crude

ChuckJones:ChuckAmuck:TheLife andTimesofAnimatedCartoonist

"Imean,afterallyouhavetoconsiderwe'reonlymadeoutofdust.That'sadmittedlynot muchtogoonandweshouldn'tforgetthat.Butevenconsidering,Imeanit'sasortofbad beginning,we'renotdoingtoobad.SoIpersonallyhavefaiththateveninthislousysituation we'refacedwithwecanmakeit.Yougetme?"

StanCollender:TheGuidetotheFederal Budget

Thistossesabizarrethoughtupintomymind:perhapssomedayagiantautomatedmachinewillroar andclankout,"Fromrustwearecome."Andanothermachine,sickanddying,cradledinthearmsof itswoman,maysighback,"Andtorustwearereturned."Andpeacewillfalloverthebarren,anxiety strickenlandscape. Ourfield,sciencefiction,dealswiththatportionofthelifecycleofourspecieswhichextendsaheadof us.Butifitisatruecycle,thatfutureportionofithasinasensealreadyhappened.Or,atleast,we canonabasisalmostmathematicallyprecisemapoutthenext,missingintegersinthesequenceof whichwearethepast.Thefirstinteger:theEarthMotherculture.Next,themasculinesolardeities, withtheirstern,authoritariansocieties,fromSpartatoRometoFascistItalyandJapanandGermany andtheUSSR.Andnow,perhaps,whattheMedievalpietaslookedforwardto:inthearmsofEarth Mother,whostilllives,thedeadsolardeity,herson,liesinaonceagainsilentreturntothewombfom whichhecame.Ithinkweareenteringthisthirdandperhapsfinalsequenceofourhistory,andthisis asocietythatourfieldseesaheadofuswhichwillbequitedifferentfromeitherofthetwoprevious worldcivilizationsfamiliarinthepast.Itisnotatwopartcyclewehavenotreachedtheconclusionof themasculinesolardeityperiodtoreturnmerelytotheprimordialEarthMothercult,howeverfullof milkherbreastsmaybewhatliesaheadisnew.Andpossibly,beyondthatliessomethingmore, uniqueandobscuredtoourgazeasofthismoment.I,myself,can'tenvisionthatfartherealization, thefulfillment,oftheMedievalpieta,asalivingreality,ourtotalenvironment,a livingexternal environmentasanimateasourselvesthatiswhatIseeandnofurther.Notyet,anyhow.Iwould, myself,becontentwiththatIwouldbehappytolieslumberingandyetalive"invisiblebutdim,"as Vaughnputitinherarms. Ifapietaofathousandyearsago,shapedbyaMedievalartisan,anticipatedinhisshallwesay psionic?hands,ourfutureworld,what,today,mightbetheanalogofthatinspired,precognitive artifact?Whatdowehavewithus now,ashomelyandfamiliartousinour20thcenturyworld,as werethoseeverydaypietastothecitizensof13thcenturyChristendom,thatmightbeamicrocosmof thefardistantfuture?Letusfirststartbyimaginingapiouspeasantof13thcenturyFrancegazingup atarusticpietaandforeseeinginitthe21stcenturysocietyaboutwhichwesciencefictionwriters speculate.Then,asinaBergmanfilm,weseguetowhatnow?Oneofusgazingatwhat? Cycleandrecycle.Thepietaofourmodernworld:ugly,commonplace,ubiquitous.Notthedead Christinthearmsofhisgrieving,eternalmother,butaheapofaluminumBudweiserbeercans,eighty feethigh,thousandsofthem,beingscoopedupnoisily,rattlingandspillingandcrashingandraining downasagiantautomated,computercontrolledhomeostaticBudweiserbeerfactoryanautofac,asI calleditonceinastoryhugsthediscardedemptiesbackintoherselftorecyclethemoveragaininto newlife,withnew,livingcontents.Exactlyasbefore...or,ifthechemistsintheBudweiserlabare fulfillingGod'sdivineplanforeternalprogress,with better beerthanbefore. Weseeasthroughaglassdarkly,"PaulsaysinFirstCorinthianswillthissomedayberewrittenas: "Weseeasintoapassiveinfraredscannerdarkly?"Ascannerwhich,asinOrwell's 1984,iswatching usallthetime?OurTVtubewatchingbackatusaswewatchit,asamused,orbored,oranyhow somewhatasentertainedbywhatwedoaswearebywhatweseeonitsimplacableface?

WilliamKlein:NewYork1954.55

RobertV.Levine:ThePowerof Persuasion:HowWe'reBoughtandSold

SimonSchama:AHistoryofBritain:The FateofEmpire17762000

cassieoniPodHalloweencostumes christianonoilministerNNPC DaveHarrisonGMrevivesChevrolet Camaromusclecar dennyon1941ChryslerCoupe TimonGreatestAmericanRockandRoll Band? TimonGreatestAmericanRockandRoll Band? LaJollaHomesonFriday! becaonGiantJellyfish MattQonSafestSeatOnaPlane

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MattQonOlbermanonBush

essays & effluvia: The Android and The Human

This,forme,istoopessimistic,tooparanoid.IbelieveFirstCorinthianswillberewrittenthisway:" Thepassiveinfraredscannerseesinto usdarkly,"thatis,notwellenoughtoreallyfigureusout.Not thatweourselvescanreallyfigureeachotherout,orevenourownselves.Which,perhaps,too,is gooditmeanswearestillinforsuddensurprises,andunlikeauthorities,whodon'tlikethatsortof thing,wemayfindthesechancehappeningsactinginourbehalf,toourfavor. Suddensurprises,bythewayandthisthoughtmaybeinitselfasuddensurprisetoyouareasort ofantidotetoparanoia...or,tobeaccurateaboutit,toliveinsuchawayastoencountersudden surprisesquiteoftenorevennowandthenisanindicationthatyouarenotparanoid,becausetothe paranoid,nothingisasurpriseeverythinghappensexactlyasheexpected,andsometimesevenmore so.Itallfitsintohissystemmaybe all systemsthatis,anytheoretical,verbal,symbolic,semantic, etc.formulationthatattemptstoactasanallencompassing,allexplaininghypothesisofwhatthe universeisaboutaremanifestationsofparanoia.Weshouldbecontentwiththemysterious,the meaningless,thecontradictory,thehostile,andmostofalltheunexplainablywarmandgivingtotal socalledinanimateenvironment,inotherwordsverymuchlikeaperson,likethebehaviorofone intricate,subtle,halfveiled,deep,perplexing,andmuchtobelovedhumanbeingtoanother.Tobe fearedalittle,too,sometimes.Andperpetuallymisunderstood.Aboutwhichwecanneitherknoworbe surewemustonlytrustandmakeguessestoward.Notbeingwhatyouthought,notdoingrightby you,notbeingjust,butthensustainingyouasbymomentarycaprice,butthenabandoningyou,orat leastseemingto.Whatitisactuallyuptowemayneverknow.Butatleastthisisbetter,isitnot,than topossesstheselfdefeating,lifedefeatingspuriouscertitudeoftheparanoidexpressed,byafriend ofmine,humorously,I guess,likethis:"Doctor,someoneisputtingsomethinginmyfoodtomakeme paranoid."Thedoctorshouldhaveasked,wasthatpersonputtingitinhisfoodfree,orcharginghim forit? Toreferbackafinaltimetoanearlysciencefictionworkwithwhichweareallfamiliar,theBible:a numberofstoriesinourfieldhavebeenwritteninwhichcomputersprintoutportionsofthataugust book.Inowherewithsuggestthisideaforafuturestorythatacomputerprintoutaman. Or,ifitcan'tgetthattogether,then,asasecondchoice,averypooroneincomparison,acondensed versionoftheBible:"Inthebeginningwastheend."Orshoulditgotheotherway?"Intheendwasthe beginning."Whichever.Randomness,intime,willsortoutwhichitistobe.Fortunately,Imyselfam notrequiredtomakethechoice. Perhaps,whenacomputerisreadytochurnforthoneortheotherofthesetwostatements,and android,operatingthecomputer,willmakethedecisionalthough,ifIamcorrectabouttheandroid mentality,itwillbeunabletodecideandwillprintoutbothatonce,creatingaselfcancelingnothing, whichwillnotevenserveasaprimordialchaos.Anandroidmight,however,beabletohandlethis capableofsomesortofdecisionmakingpoweritmightconceivablypickonestatementortheotheras quote"correct."ButnoandroidandyouwillrecallandrealizethatbythistermIamsummingup thatwhichisnothumannoandroidwouldthinktodowhatabrighteyedlittlegirlIknowdid, somethingalittlebizarre,certainlyethicallyquestionableinseveralways,atleastinanytraditional sense,buttometrulyhuman,inthatitshows,tome,aspiritofmerrydefiance,ofspirited,although notspiritual,braveryanduniqueness: OnedaywhiledrivingalonginhercarshefoundherselffollowingatruckcarryingcasesofCocaCola bottles,caseaftercase,stacksofthem.Andwhenthetruckparked,sheparkedbehinditandloaded thebackofherowncarwithcases,asmanycasesofbottlesofCocaColaasshecouldgetin.So,for weeksafterward,sheandherfriendshadalltheCocaColatheycoulddrink,freeandthen,whenthe bottleswereempty,shecarriedthemtothestoreandturnedtheminforthedepositrefund. Tothat,Isaythis:Godblessher.Maysheliveforever.AndtheCocaColaCompanyandphone companyandalltherestofit,withtheirpassiveinfraredscannersandsniperscopesandsuchlike maytheybegonelongago.Metalandstoneandwireandthreaddidneverlive.Butsheandher friendsthey,ourhumanfuture,areourlittlesong."Whoknowsifthespiritofmentravelsup,and thebreathofbeaststravelsdownundertheEarth?"theBibleasks.Somedayit,inalaterrevision, maywonder,"Whoknowsifthespiritofmentravelsup,andthebreathof androidstravelsdown?" Wheredothesoulsofandroidsgoaftertheirdeath?Butiftheydonotlive,thentheycannotdie. Andiftheycannotdie,thentheywillalwaysbewithus.Dotheyhavesoulsatall?Or,forthatmatter, dowe? Ithink,astheBiblesays,weallgotoacommonplace.Butitisnotthegraveitisintolifebeyond. Theworldofthefuture. Thankyou.
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